Picker stick check



1957 o. L. CARTER 2,817, 68

PICKER STICK CHECK Filed Nov. 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 OTIS L. CART-ER 1 J T r 1 35 INVENTOR. A 26 rm, 20 ,4 22- BYQLmAM*W.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1957 o. L. CARTER 2,81

PICKER STICK CHECK Filed Nov. 7, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s C115 1... CART-ER,

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 2,817,368 PICKER STICK CHECK Otis L. Carter, Greenville, N. C. Application November 7, 1956, Serial N 0. 620,989 18 Claims. (Cl. 139-165) This invention relates to a picker stick check and, more especially, to means for providing arresting frictional contact with the check strap so as to prevent the ends of the same from suddenly absorbing all of the impact of the picker stick as it arrests movement of the shuttle and expels the shuttle from the box of the lay of the loom.

It is an object of this invention to provide friction means associated with a picker stick check which will cause the blow of the picker stick to be absorbed gradually from the time the picker stick engages the check strap until the picker stick is fully stopped at the end of its path of travel. Hcretofore, various attempts have been made to solve this problem, but they have all resulted in damage to the check strap or failure to properly arrest the picker stick. In the present invention, I have provided novel means for applying friction to the check strap so that the strap will travel along with the picker stick and the picker stick will be gradually stopped without greatly damaging the strap at each of the points which will be engaged by the picker stick in arresting the travel of the picker stick.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for engaging the sides of the check strap for applying a frictional contact thereto to assist in arresting the travel of the check strap along with the picker stick so that a greater portion of the strap will be used in absorbing the strike of the picker stick than has heretofore been the case.

It is another object of this invention to provide means whereby frictional contact will be applied to one side of the check strap to cause it to be gradually stopped instead of a sudden stoppage which is conventional in most looms. By causing the check strap to follow a tortuous course, a greater amount of friction will be applied thereto than if it traveled in a straight course.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved friction element for engagement by a check strap, which element has a broad, relatively flat body whose working or strap-engaging surface is curved at least at its medial portion and wherein another friction element maintains the strap in frictional contact with the strap-engaging surface.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a picker stick check or check strap mounted on one end of the lay of the loom showing one form of the improved friction means;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view looking upwardly from beneath Figure I;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a slightly modified form of the invention showing how the picker stick will. have pressure applied thereto and still have ventilation therearound;

ates Patent Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view looking downwardly and taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is another modified form of the invention showing the same attached to one end of the lay of the loom;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an isometric view looking downwardly and at the inside face of the outside bracket or friction element.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates one end of the lay of a loom which has an elongated slot 12 in which a picker stick 13 travels. lay is usually made of wood and a suitable check strap 14 is secured to one side of the lay 10 of the loom, there being several types of check straps, some being endless and some being an elongated double-ended piece of material, such as leather.

Secured to one side of the lay of the loom, by means of a bolt 15, is a first metallic bracket or strap hanger 16 which projects downwardly and inwardly and has the two ends 17 and 18 of the check the two ends being slotted to permit adjustment of the elfective length of the check strap. These two ends of the check strap may be secured to bracket 16 by any suitable means and, in this instance the bolt 15 passes through a shuttle check 20, then through the ends 17 of the check strap 14, then through the bracket 16 and then through the other end 18 of the check strap. A suitable nut 21 is threaded onto screw 15 to hold the check strap in tightly adjusted position.

The other side of the check strap 14 is the part to which suitable friction is applied and as this side of the check strap is unsecured against falling downwardly, I provide a second or inner friction bracket 25 secured by any suitable means, such as screws 29 which fit in slots 29a in the bracket 25, to the lower side of the other side of the lay of the loom. This bracket 25 has a downwardly projecting web or body 26 thereon Whose lower end has spaced outwardly-turned feet 27 thereon for supporting the check strap 14. The body 26 of the bracket 25 has suitable holes 28 therein to allow ventilation and cooling of not only the bracket 25 but also the check strap 14, thereby minimizing the heat generated by friction between the strap 14 and the inner friction element 25. The upper portion of bracket 25 has an outwardly projecting lip 30 having a slot 31 therein in which a suitable boit 32 is disposed. Bolt 32 also passes through a slot 33 in the upper horizontal portion of a third bracket or outer friction element 34. The bracket 34 has a broad vertically disposed leg or body 35 which is concave on its inner surface to cooperate with a convex surface 36 on the body 26 of bracket 25, and this surface 36 may be serrated, as at 39, if desired or left smooth. In any event, it causes the check strap 14, upon impact of the picker stick 13, to follow a tortuous course which will assist in arresting the picker stick and check strap 14. The bracket portion 35 may also have a plurality of holes 38 therethrough for providing a cooling effect for the portion of the check strap which passes therealong.

As is well known, the picker stick arrests the shuttle, not shown, as it moves outwardly on account of the shuttle nose engaging the picker P located on the upper end of the picker stick. Since there is very much more force in the shuttle as it moves outwardly of the loom into boxed position, there is much more force applied to the check strap as it wardly in arresting movement of the picker stick after it has expelled the shuttle.

strap 14 secured thereon,

moves outwardly than when it moves in- It will be observed that the i serrations 39 in the second bracket 25 are in the form of substantially vertical ridges and are slanted toward the loom somewhat in the form of ratchet teeth or saw teeth so they will have the greatest braking effect as the picker stick moves outwardly of the loom because their edges will engage the check strap to arrest the same. Conversely, when the check strap 14 moves inwardly under impact of the picker stick 13, there will not be nearly as much braking effect on the inward travel of the check strap as on the outward travel, due to the slant of the serrations 39.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, and the reference characters applied to the conventional parts of the loom as heretofore described will likewise apply to this second form of the invention, since the main difference between the various forms of the invention lies in the bracket for applying friction to the check strap. A suitable second bracket or inner friction bracket 50 is secured, by any suitable means such as a bolt 51, to the lay of the loom and has an inwardly and downwardly projecting relatively narrow body portion 52 which has a convex surface 53 adapted to rub against the inner side of the check strap. The lower end of the body 52 has an outwardly projecting, strap-supporting foot 54 thereon.

The upper portion of bracket 50 has an outwardly projecting lip portion 55 provided with a slot 56 in which a bolt 57 is adjustably secured. The bolt 57 also penetrates a slot 58 in the upper horizontal portion 59 of a third or outer friction bracket broadly designated at 60 and which may be identical to the bracket 34 of the first form of the invention. The bracket 60 also has a downwardly projecting body 61 which is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 62. The body 62 of the bracket 60 has a concave surface 63 matching with the convex surface 53 to provide a tortuous course for the check strap as it receives the impacts of the picker stick. The bracket body 60 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly by means of the bolt 57 to provide the desired amount of friction to the check strap in its passage between the portions 52 and 60.

In Figures 7 to 9, inclusive, another or third form of the invention is shown in which the same reference characters apply to conventional parts of the loom, and the check strap and picker stick as are applied to the other forms of the invention. In this form of the invention, I provide a second or inner friction bracket 70 which is secured to the lower side of the lay of the loom by any suitable means such as bolts 71. The bracket 70 has a pair of spaced, downwardly projecting fingers 73 and 74 which have inturned horizontal portions or feet 75 and 76 integral therewith for preventing that side of the check strap from falling downwardly. The fingers 73 and 74 have convex outer surfaces 77 and 78 against which one side of the check strap rubs.

Integral with the bracket 70 is an outwardly projecting lip portion 72 which has a slot 80 therein in which a downwardly projecting bolt 81 is positioned. The bolt 81 projects through a slot 82 in the upper horizontal portion 83 of a third or outer friction bracket 84, by means of which the bracket 84 can be adjusted inwardly and outwardly relative to the fingers 73 and 74. The bracket 84 may be identical to brackets 34 and 60, and is provided with a broad web or body portion 85. The body portion 85 is concave at its medial portion, as at 86, and has a plurality of holes 87 therein for ventilation purposes.

It is thus seen that, as the body portion 85 is adjusted inwardly and outwardly relative to the fingers 73 and 74, varying amounts of friction will be applied to the check strap 14 as that side of the same passes longitudinally thereof upon receiving impacts of the picker stick. It is also seen that the concave surface 86 will allow ventilation on both sides of the check strap and will have a cooling effect on the same.

It is thus seen that I have provided check strap supporting and friction means which will not only keep the check strap cool and thereby greatly prolong the useful life of the strap 14, but will also apply the proper amount of friction thereto to thus save excessive wear on the portions of the check strap at each end thereof in an assembled picker stick check and thus prevent the picker stick from unduly wearing the check strap at the points where it receives impacts from the picker stick.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims:

Iclaim:

1. A check strap friction unit for looms having a lay and a picker stick movable in said lay and encompassed by said strap; said friction unit comprising a bracket depending from said lay and having a relatively broad body portion thereon provided with a concave working surface on one side thereof, and means to maintain said strap in engagement with said one side of said body portion.

2. A check strap friction unit for a loom having a lay and a picker stick movable in said lay and encompassed by said strap; said friction unit comprising at least one friction element depending from said lay and having a broad body portion of height and length each substantially equal to the width of said strap, said body portion having a concave surface past which said strap extends, and means tending to urge said strap against said surface whereby said strap is caused to follow a tortuous path as it is moved relative to said surface by impacts of the picker stick against the strap.

3. A check strap friction unit for looms having a lay and a picker stick movable longitudinally of the lay and encircled by said strap; said friction unit comprising at least one pair of friction elements depending from said lay and between which a portion of said strap moves by impacts of the picker stick against the strap, one of said elements having a concave surface nearest the strap and the other element having a convex surface nearest the strap whereby the strap follows a tortuous path in its movement between said elements.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein one of said surfaces is roughened.

5. A structure according to surfaces is serrated.

6. A structure according to claim 3 wherein one of said surfaces is provided with a plurality of substantially vertically extending ridges.

7. A structure according to claim 6 wherein said ridges are in the form of saw-teeth which are slanted toward the center of the loom whereby said elements provide greater resistance to movement of the strap on outward strokes of the picker stick than they do with inward strokes of the picker stick.

8. In a check strap holder and friction applying means for a loom having a lay, a picker stick, a check strap and means on one side of the lay to which overlapped ends of the check strap are secured; the other side of the lay having secured thereto a downwardly extending inner bracket whose outer surface is convex, said bracket having mounted thereon an adjustable outer bracket which is adjustable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the first bracket, and the adjustable bracket having a concave inner surface adjacent the outer surface of the check strap whereby the check strap is caused to follow a tortuous course between the two brackets when receiving impacts from the picker stick.

9. A claim according to claim 8 in which the inner bracket is provided with serrations on the convex surface to apply additional friction to the check strap when the same is passed between the two brackets.

10. A claim according to claim 8 in which the convex surface of said inner bracket is roughened to apply addiclaim 3 wherein one of said tional friction to the check strap when the same is passed between the two brackets.

11. In a check strap holder means for a loom having a lay, a picker stick and a check strap, one side of the lay of the loom having secured thereto a downwardly extending second bracket whose outer surface is convex, said bracket having mounted thereon an adjustable third bracket which is adjustable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the second bracket, and the adjustable third bracket having a concave surface adjacent the outer surface of the check strap whereby the check strap is caused to follow a tortuous course between the two brackets when receiving impacts from the picker stick.

12. In a check strap holder and friction applying means for a loom having a lay and a picker stick and a check strap and having a first bracket on one side of the lay of the loom to which overlapped ends of the check strap :are secured; the other side of the lay of the loom having secured thereto a downwardly extending second bracket whose outer surface is convex, an adjustable third bracket mounted for adjustment inwardly and outwardly with respect to the second bracket, and the third bracket having a concave surface adjacent the outer surface of the check strap whereby the check strap is caused to follow a tortuous course between the two brackets when receiving impacts from the picker stick.

13. A structure according to claim 12 in which the first bracket having the convex surface is provided with serrations on the convex surface to apply additional friction to the check strap when the same is passed between the two brackets.

14. A structure according to claim 12 in which the second downwardly extending bracket is provided with two spaced legs each of which has a convex surface adapted to fit against the inner side of the check strap.

15. A structure according to claim 12 in which the second bracket is provided with a single leg having a convex surface engaging the inner side of the check strap at and friction applying a point substantially midway of the concave surface of the third bracket.

16. A check strap support and friction applying means for a loom having a lay, a picker stick and a downwardly extending first bracket depending from one side of the lay and to which overlapped ends of a check strap are adapted to be secured; the other side of the lay loom having a downwardly extending second bracket fixed thereto, said second bracket having a convex surface fitting against the inner surface of the check strap, a third bracket adjustably secured to the second bracket and adapted to fit against the outer surface of the check strap, said third bracket having perforations therein to assist in cooling the same and the check strap, and the surface of the third bracket which fits next to the check strap being concave in formation.

17. A check strap support and friction applying means for a loom having a lay and a picker stick and a downwardly extending first bracket to which overlapped ends of a check strap are adapted to be secured, the other side of the lay of the loom having a second downwardly ex tending bracket fixed thereto, said second bracket having a surface fitting against the inner surface of the check strap, a third bracket adjustably secured to the second bracket and having a concave surface adapted to fit against the outer surface of the check strap, and said. third bracket having perforations therein to assist in cooling both the third bracket and the check strap.

18. A claim according to claim 17 in which the second downwardly extending bracket is provided with two spaced legs each of which has a convex surface adapted to fit against the inner side of the check strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,498,795 Herbert et a1. June 24, 1924 2,276,712 Boucher Mar. 17, 1942 2,489,979 Rogers Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CDRRECTION Patent Noe 2,817,368 December 24, 1957 Otis L Carter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belowa In the grant, line 3, address of inventor, for "Greenville, North Carolina" read --Greenville, South Carolinain the heading to the printed specification, line 3, address of inventor, for "Greenville, No C read ====Greenville, So Co Signed and sealed this 15th day of April 1958,

( SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C WATSON Attesting Officer Comnissioner of Patents 

